Is the T even worth the trouble? (Canton, Harvard: to live, cars)

[bjimmy24]

Yesterday the bus had an hour between arrivals during rush hour. This happens frequently on Fridays, when I assume employees, much like bad college students, simply don't show up.

[strandedx02]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

Today I got to Kendall and i had a 4 min wait for an ashmont train. The next braintree train was 7 min. When i got off at Broadway I noticed the next braintree train was a 12 min wait. This was on a rush hour supposedly slow Friday after a horrible day with many mishaps for them at 5:40. Not impressed. 12 minutes? The worse part of the longer waits is the longer the wait the more people that pile on the platform and then all try and squeeze in on the train once it does finally show up. Brutal.

I have claustrophobia, and this aspect of the T turned into a huge quality of life issue when I lived in Boston. After the snowstorms last year, there was a month or so where the Green Line was running, but not at full capacity, which meant insanely full trains. I actually altered my work schedule so that I worked from home in the morning, went downtown to the office around lunchtime, and then stayed in the office until 6:30-7:00 to let the crowd thin out in the evening. On individual days when there was a problem and we got dumped off at Kenmore or something on the way into town, I generally just emailed the office and turned around and worked at home for the day. Thankfully, I have an employer who was willing to work with me (and valued me enough to keep me as a full-time telecommuter now that I live in North Carolina), but I have no idea what I would've done if I didn't have that option.

[Whatsnext75]

Im not claustrophobic but I find it gross to be smushed in with a bunch of strangers when who knows where they've been or what illnesses they could have.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

Im not claustrophobic but I find it gross to be smushed in with a bunch of strangers when who knows where they've been or what illnesses they could have.

I hated what I call the "cowpokes" which are the spots on the T and commuter rail where everyone converges on a narrow staircase or escalator. The Lowell commuter rail station was notorious for it. It had only one stairwell, two person wide and served as both the entry and exit point for the platform. The exit points need to be able to accommodate the rush of passengers exiting a train. Alewife on the red line is pretty good but most of the stations suck in this regard.

[mdovell]

Meanwhile in Japan..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr7q-v7NIRQ

[Dm84]

Another fine Red Line meltdown in progress. I've been sitting at Kendall for 15 minutes and counting.

[Whatsnext75]

Haha yup. I got stuck as well at downtown xing. Apparently there was police action at andrew and a medical emergency at charles
My friend missed her connecting commuter train at south station because of this. I'm sure lots of other people did too

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

Haha yup. I got stuck as well at downtown xing. Apparently there was police action at andrew and a medical emergency at charles
My friend missed her connecting commuter train at south station because of this. I'm sure lots of other people did too

I missed my commuter rail train too. Just got home 5 minutes ago. I wonder if this just a "delay" as opposed to a delay?

[bohemka]

To be fair, there's not much you can do about police action and a medical emergency. That's not the T's fault.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by bohemka

To be fair, there's not much you can do about police action and a medical emergency. That's not the T's fault.

Yes and if that was the only reason the Red Line gets delayed people would be more understanding.